Gaza Herald – Basem Naim, a member of the political bureau of Hamas, provided details regarding the targeted meeting in Doha on Wednesday, coinciding with the first anniversary of the assassination attempt against the movement’s negotiators. He stated that on this day, Hamas received an offer from President Trump to negotiate a ceasefire through Qatari mediation, granting them forty-eight hours to respond.
Naim explained that the negotiating delegation met with advisors to discuss the proposal. The atmosphere was positive, favoring acceptance despite questions regarding guarantees. However, he claimed another faction within the movement pursued a dark ideology unable to exist without bloodshed, deciding to sabotage the opportunity and extinguish hope for millions by targeting the Palestinian team in the capital of a US ally.
He noted that while Hamas sought peace, the enemy aimed to destroy the war effort. Naim asserted that Prime Minister Netanyahu views the conflict as a personal battle for survival, leading to the calculation that the enemy might target the movement’s leadership, specifically the negotiating team led by Khalil al-Hayya. The occupation attempted this major blunder regardless of laws or values but failed completely.
The attack resulted in the martyrdom of five cadres, including Jihad Lubad, Hammad al-Hayya, Abdullah Abd al-Wahid, Mu’men Husunna, and Ahmad Abd al-Malik. Qatar reported that Israel launched a cowardly attack on the residential headquarters of political bureau members. Despite the failure of the assassination, Naim described it as a turning point revealing intentions focused solely on killing, destruction, and displacement.
Regarding the aftermath, Naim acknowledged that the American side was clearly complicit in the crime. Following international anger, the US sought an exit strategy through a plan proposed by Trump, which Hamas accepted positively. This process ultimately led to the cessation of hostilities and the signing of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement.
Naim emphasized that Hamas adhered to all agreements in Sharm el-Sheikh, enduring attacks with high national responsibility to save the people from Israeli government plots. He criticized the Peace Council for failing to pressure Netanyahu into implementing accords, allowing continued death and starvation. He concluded that this approach has deepened violence and despair over decades.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
